The Remember Balloons

The Remember Balloons (2018), written by Jessie Oliveros and illustrated by Dana Wulfekotte, follows a young boy named James and his grandfather. In the story, memories are represented as colourful balloons that people carry with them. Grandpa has many balloons filled with memories from his long life, including family events, childhood experiences, and a special fishing trip with James. As Grandpa grows older, however, his balloons begin to float away, symbolising his gradual loss of memory. James becomes upset when Grandpa forgets important moments they shared and eventually no longer recognises him. His parents help James understand that memories can be passed from one person to another. James realises that many of Grandpa’s stories now live in his own balloons, allowing him to preserve and share his grandfather’s memories even as Grandpa loses them.